The European Commission has urged Germany, France, Italy, and other EU countries to phase out internal border controls, citing the bloc's new external digital border check system and the upcoming migration pact. On Tuesday, Brussels stated that these measures reduce the need for internal checks within the Schengen area.
Commission's Stance
Magnus Brunner, the EU commissioner for migration, emphasized that member states should work toward phasing out controls at internal borders. Free movement is a fundamental principle of the Schengen area, and border checks are only allowed if there is a threat to public order or security. Such measures should be exceptional and temporary, typically not exceeding two years.
Current Situation
Under political pressure to curb migration, many countries have increasingly used this clause. Germany has maintained border controls almost continuously since 2015. When checks exceed 12 months, the commission must review their justification. On Tuesday, it issued opinions to Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, and Norway (a non-EU Schengen member).
The commission acknowledged that the checks were established due to genuine security and migration concerns but recommended gradual replacement with non-systematic police checks, mobile biometric identification, and vehicle tracking technologies. Irregular border crossings into the EU have dropped by 40% in the first four months of 2026 compared to last year, according to the EU border agency.
The new automated system, which replaces passport stamps with digital registration and collects facial images and fingerprints, became operational in April, causing long queues at some airports. The commission believes these advancements make internal border controls less necessary.
